B’nai B’rith International President Robert Spitzer and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith welcomes the agreement for Hamas to release all 48 remaining Israeli hostages, living and dead, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners—a significant and long-overdue step toward justice in the region, nearly two years after the Hamas terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.

Under the agreement, championed by U.S. President Donald Trump, Israel will temporarily pause military operations and withdraw its troops to an agreed-upon line during the first phase. The White House expects the hostages to be released imminently.

We look forward to the hostages’ safe return to Israel and are hopeful that Hamas honors the commitments of this ceasefire framework. While we welcome this development as a significant step toward justice and the protection of human life, B’nai B’rith emphasizes that Israel’s right to security must be fully upheld. The suffering endured by hostages and their families over the past two years has been profound.

This first-phase agreement reflects the critical role of the U.S. administration in brokering the deal and underscores the significance of regional and international partners in supporting its implementation. This agreement moves us closer to a durable and sustainable peace in the region.